IRONS AND WOODS COMING THIS FALL TO LONG GROVE-ON RT.53 NORTH OF LAKE COOK ROAD-Behind Menards. Golf and Sports Simulators, Slots and more #fun. ______________________________________________________________________

GOLFERS ON GOLF-PRESENTS The Gog Blog, by Rory Spears (R) with Alex Praeger at Club Champion Schaumburg. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, or Linkedin and Facebook.

When Nick Sherburne and Joe Lee started to see the progress made by PGA Touring professionals, on the course and after working with club fitters in the tour trailers. Something hit home.

No, it wasn’t the Smash-Factor of a tour pro hitting a long drive. It was like, so what could happen if the everyday golfer had access to the same technology. Besides becoming a better golfer, and enjoying the game more.

Because with the proper clubs from Day 1, golfers in principle, shouldn’t have to spend a “big bucks” on clubs, then first go out on a golf course and find out they didn’t perform as expected. Little-by-little that message is hitting home. Because buying an expensive driver or putter right off the rack, and taking them out on the golf course and hoping for top results. Is no longer what most golfers are doing. They hit fitting centers like Club Champion.

Any golfer can go into Club Champions hitting bays and get fitted.

There was a time when golfers got fitted for more expensive clubs, like drivers and full sets of Irons.

But no longer does the process stop there. Hybrids, putters, and the golf ball are all now part of the process, because if you want to get it right top to bottom. Why stop at just part of your bag. Besides, don’t you want your entire game to be the best it can be.

If your not getting distance because your driver has bad ball flight, and you can’t sink a putt. You need to find out why. Because maybe-just maybe, it’s not your fault. Yes it can be the arrow, and not the indian.

Click here to hear the interview with Schaumburg Club Champion store manager, and master fitter and builder Alex Praeger.

The front entrance to the new Club Champion location at 152 East Golf Road in Schaumburg. And the state of the art hitting bay, where golfers find the way to the best clubs for their game.

It doesn’t matter what brand you like to play. Titleist, Callaway, Taylormade, PXG, Ping, or Wilson. Let Club Champion find the clubs that are right for you.

Club Champion has four locations in the Chicago area. Besides Chicago, there is Deerfield, Schaumburg and Willowbrook. Further information at clubchampiongolf.com.

IRONS AND WOODS-COMING TO LONG GROVE this fall. Irons and Woods will be a golf and sport simulator driven fun establishment. With golf games, slots and more. So remember to put Irons and Woods on your schedule. Located on Rt. 53 North of Lake-Cook/Hicks Road, and directly behind the Menards Store on Lake-Cook Road. #golffun _____________________________________________________________________

David Cooke holds the Illinois Open trophy for the second time, after winning the 2019 Illinois Open. Photo by Rory Spears.

ONE FOR THE MONEY, and TWO FOR THE SHOW.

David Cooke won his second Illinois Open Championship in five years. And the good news is this time is he gets paid.

Because when Cooke won by 5 shots in 2015, he was an amateur.  The check will come in handy, as Cooke is getting married this weekend in North Carolina. And his cut of the purse will be $23,768.00. One would think that Cooke’s honeymoon with Claire Corbitt-Cooke, just got a little bit sweeter.

David Cooke tee’s off on the par 3, ninth hole, in the final round of the Illinois Open at the Glen Club. Photo by Rory Spears.

Cooke’s final round 5 under par 67, was enough to defeat runner-up Nick Hardy by 4 shots.

Hardy put together an early charge on the first six holes, to let Cooke know it would not be a cake walk. But after Cooke’s birdie on the par 5 14th hole, the feeling at the Glen Club was that Cooke had things under control holding a four shot lead. But he added another birdie on the par 4, 16th for good measure.

Cooke played steady golf all round. In fact his card was perfect, with 5 birdies and no bogeys. After the wedding and honeymoon, Cooke will look ahead to Q-School and the Korn-Ferry Tour, but has some options to play in Europe. This victory makes him the 12th player to win the open at least twice, and the fourth to have wins as both an amateur and a professional.

Hardy had 8 birdies on the day, and his 66 was the low round of the day. Besides the 8 birdies though, were two costly bogeys. And because those bogeys came on shorter par 4 holes, like 7 and 16. It ruined any chance Hardy had to catch Cooke.

Nick Hardy checks his yardge on the par 4, 13th hole. Photo by Rory Spears.

And so after the round, Hardy admitted the last piece that needs to come together in his game, is wedges. Hardy was also the low University of Illinois player.

Hardy edged former teammate Bryan Baumgarten by 3 shots. Baumgarten tied Jordan Less at 6 under par, to share low-amateur honors.

Illinois sophomore Tommy Kuhl finished alone in 8th place after a final round 71, and teammate Luke Armbrust was T-34th.

Illinois alum Garrett Chaussard was one behind Kuhl, and was T-9 with 2017 champion Patrick Flavin. Flavin who started the final round, one under par. Went out on the front side with a four under par 32, but could not get any putts to fall on the back nine. Flavin put his drive on 18 in a fairway bunker And then after laying up with his bunker shot, his third shot into the green went splash and he finished the tournament with a double-bogey 7.

Illinois mens golf coach  Mike Small, looking for his fifth Illinois Open title, finished up T-40 after a 74. Small called the final round, “not one of my better days.” And he admitted to having a few holes in his game, because of not having proper practice time.

Brandon Holtz the 2017 and 2018 runner-up, finished with a solid 69 and that left him in 7th place.

Frank Hohenadel head professional at Mistwood Golf Club, was the only one of the four Mistwood professionals to make the cut. Hohenadel finished in third place after a 69. His best finish in an IPGA major, since his 2011 IPGA Section Championship win at Medinah. And it was the highest finish for a Mistwood professional in the Illinois Open.

Tee-k Kelly and (a) David Perkins who played in the final group with Cooke, shot 71 and 76. Kelly ending up T-4 and Perkins T-16.

Click here to hear interviews with Champion David Cooke, and runner-up Nick Hardy.

And so the next IPGA Section major is, the Illinois PGA Section Championship at Ruth Lake Country Club in Hinsdale. Dates are August 26-27-28 more information at IPGA.com.

IRONS AND WOODS coming soon to Long Grove, on Rt. 53 north of Lake Cook Road behind Menards. Golf and Sports simulators, slot machines, meeting rooms and more.   _____________________________________________________________________

David Cooke with the Illinois Open Trophy in 2015, Can he win No.2. By Rory Spears,, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy

One more time. Can David Cooke win it again, four years after his win at Royal Melbourne in 2015.

Cooke carded a 3 under par 69, at the Glen Club that left him at 8 under par (136), and holding a 3 shot lead over Tee-k Kelly, and (a) David Perkins.

While Cook might feel some pressure during Wednesday’s third and final round, the pressure on Cooke could be this Saturday when he gets married.

The final round at the Glen Club might be a walk in the park, by comparison. Not that Cooke won’t be challenged by those players chasing him.

Kelly who says he has been playing well of late, is ready to make a run at Cooke. And Kelly is bidding to be, only the 11th player in state history to win the both the Illinois State Amateur, and the Illinois Open. Because the players share a swing coach, and agent. The gallery following the two players will have some familiar faces in it. Perkins who equaled the low round of the tournament, with a 7 under par 65, at the Glen Club. Is ready to add the name of yet another amateur player to the Illinois Open trophy.

Mistwood Golf Club’s head professional Frank Hohenadel shot his second straight round of 70, and is alone in 4th place and 4 under par. Hohenadel the 2011 Illinois PGA Section champion, hasn’t won another section major in 8 years. But Hohenadel, who at one time was the longest hitting professional in the section, has after years of leaving his driver in the bag. Put his driver back in play. And the results are paying off.

Five players with ties to the University of Illinois golf team made the cut. (a) Tommy Kuhl and recent graduate Nick Hardy are both at 3 under par. (a) Luke Armbrust is at +1, along with reigning IPGA Match Play champion Garrett Chaussard. Former player and current head coach of the Fighting Illini mens golf team Mike Small, made the cut on the number at +3. But Small’s bid for a fifth Illinois Open title has gone by the wayside, being 11 shots in arrears of Cooke.

Brandon Holtz runner-up in both 2017 and 2018, sits shots back of Cooke at 2 under par. 2017 Champion Patrick Flavin shot a 2 under par 70, and is seven shots off the lead.

Because only 52 players made the cut, and final round tee-times start at 8 am. With the final group hitting the first tee at 11:07.

  IRONS & WOODS coming soon to Long Grove, on Rt.53 North of Lake Cook Road behind Menards. Golf and Sports simulators, slot machines and more. Late Summer.      ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG with Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. With the Illinois Open trophy at the Glen Club. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook.

IT’S CHRIS BOYLE off to the lead after 18 holes at the Illinois Open.

Boyle shot his 7 under par 65 score at the Glen Club, while most of the other leaders played at Ridgemoor Country Club.

But the key to Boyle’s start, was making birdie on 4 of the first five holes. Then adding four more birdies on the back nine. The lone square on the scorecard came at the par 4, 16th hole.

When Round 2 begins on Tuesday, Boyle who lives in Crete, and works as an assistant professional at Balmoral Woods, will have a two shot lead on the field.

“I was hitting my shots early and my plan for the golf course was working,” said Boyle.”My goal was to make three birdies per side, and I exceeded that on the front nine. I hit my goal on the back nine. I know I had a good score today, but it’s only 18 holes and there are two more days to go.”

David Cooke who won the championship in 2015, by a 5 shot margin (the largest ever by an amateur player). Posted a 5 under par 67, and is alone in second place.

“I got off to a good start today,” said Cooke. “But they key to my round was being able to take advantage of the par 5’s.”

Three players headed up by Tee-k Kelly are tied for third place at 3 under par. But only Kelly played at Ridgemoor.

Defending champion Vince India is not playing this year due to commitments on the Korn-Ferry Tour. 2017 Champion Patrick Flavin finished at +1 with a 73. University of Illinois mens golf coach Mike Small, who is looking for his fifth Illinois Open title carded a 76. That left Small who played Round 1, at Ridgemoor at +4.

2016 Illinois Open champion Carlos Sainz Jr. withdrew on Sunday night. Professional John Platt from Mistwood Golf Club replaced him. The day’s first alternate Paul Schlimm Sr. also joined the field, that included his son (a) Paul Schlimm Jr. a member of the golf team at Northern Illinois University.

Mistwood Golf Club led the way with the most members of it’s professional staff in the field, with four. Frank Hohenadel had the low score a 70, Andy Mickelson shot an even par 72, Platt shot 75 while Chris Ioriatti carded an 80.

Round 2 will be contested at both the Glen Club and Ridgemoor Country Club on Tuesday. The low 50-players and ties will make the cut after 36 holes, and play the final round on Wednesday at the Glen Club.

IRONS AND WOODS-COMING TO LONG GROVE THIS FALL. RT. 53 North of Lake Cook Road-behind the Menards. Golf and sports simulators, slot machines and more.     _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-with Golfers on Golf’s Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin or Facebook. With Alex Praeger at Club Champion in Schaumburg.

IT’S OPEN WEEK. Yes, our states version of the Open Championship.

264 players, two golf courses, three days and 54 holes of golf. That is unless there is a tie, and at least three more holes are needed for a playoff.

Defending champion Vince India, has not returned, so this year there will be a different name on the trophy. Even though several past champions are playing, and looking for a second or third trip to the winners circle.

There is no clear-cut favorite this year. So do come out to the Glen Club, or Ridgemoor Country Club because the golf will be fun to watch. Besides you can cheer-on your favorite local professional or top amateur player. The open wraps up on Wednesday at the Glen Club, with a trophy presentation around 4-5 PM. And I will see you there.

SCHAUMBURG GOLF there is so much going on in Schaumburg these days on the golf scene. First up great news from the Schuamburg Golf Club. The Baer 9 renovation part of the clubs 27 holes, is working it’s way to being done. Because in late June the first seven holes reopened from renovation. Now comes word that hole 17 is open. And that hole 18 is only days away fom having the entire nine open for play. Stay clicked in for details.

TOPGOLF SCHAUMBURG is no longer just a hole in the ground. So as construction continues, the building structure is going up and things are taking shape. I can’t wait to see what new options will come with the facility when it opens.

CLUB CHAMPION SCHAUMBURG and of course it’s on Golf Road. So where else could it be. I was back to the store last week for the first time since January, and that was before the store opened. Alex Praeger the store manager, and master fitter, showed me around and I tested some new clubs. The options there for your game are endless. I’m back later this week with more on club fitting the Club Champion way.

HE IS NO RANK AMATEUR it was great to see Garrett Rank the 31 year old cancer survivor and NHL referee win the 117th Western Amateur at Point O’Woods. I first met Rank at the 2012 USGA Mid-Amateur at Conway Farms. He made the championship match against the famed Nathan Smith. And he took Smith to the 36th hole before Smith made the history books as the first to win the championship four-times.

I have spoke with Rank at the Western Amateur in recent years, and at Blackhawks games he has worked at the United Center. He is a great ambassador for both sports, and he is not turning pro in the golf ranks anytine soon. I’m looking forward to seeing him back at the UC this winter.

THE BMW CHAMPIONSHIP tee’s off at Medinah next week. Our coverage starts later this week, so stay clicked in for all the details of golf returning to Medinah Country Club. But first let’s see who wins “The Open”. RS

  THE BAER NINE is now the Baer 8, as the 17th hole is now open for play. Shortly the Baer’s 18th hole will open, and the Schaumburg Golf Club will have 18 renovated holes open for play. Tee times at Schaumburggolf.com or (847)-885-9000. IRONS & WOODS is coming soon to Long Grove, on Rt.53 north of Lake Cook Road and behind Menards. There will be golf and sports simulators, along with slots machines, live entertainment.    ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG the written side of Golfers on Golf. By Director of Content and Creation-Rory Spears. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the back-nine at Ridgemoor Country Club. L-R Rory Spears, Len Ziehm, TK Kelly, and Palmer Moody.

THE 70TH ILLINOIS OPEN tee’s off tomorrow, with the 54 hole championship running through Wednesday.

Because of his schedule on the Korn-Ferry Tour, defending champion Vince India is not in the field.

2017 champion Patrick Flavin returns. Besides Flavin there are several other past champions set to make a run.

Including Garrett Chaussard the two-time champion in the season’s first major championship. The Illinois PGA Match Play at Kemper Lakes. Other past champions besides Flavin include, Roy Biancalana, Carlos Sainz Jr., Eric Meierdierks, David Cooke, and four-time champion Mike Small.

2018 Champion Vince India is not in this years field.

The field of 264 players is comprised of professionals or amateurs, with a handicap of 10.0 or less. They must reside in the State of Illinois.

All players will play 36 holes, with 18 at the Glen Club, and 18 at Ridgemoor. After 36 holes there will be a cut. And the remaining players will play the final round at the Glen Club.

In past years, there have been father son-combinations in the field. A first time combination could happen this year. Because Paul Schlimm Sr. is currently first-alternate, and his son Paul Schlimm Jr. is already in the field. Besides the Schlimm’s, there are multiple Mulhearn’s and the brothers Billiter. So the Illinois Open is once again, a family affair.

And another competition that is brewing, are the multiple professionals from Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville. The Director of Golf Andy Mickelson, is looking for bragging rights over head professional Frank Hohenadel, and teaching professional Chris Ioriatti.

The Glen Club will play at 7,155 yards, and with Ridgemoor Country Club at 6,922 yards, neither course will play short. And in case of a tie, all players will play a three-hole cumulative score playoff. But if there is still a tie, the format changes to sudden-death.

For more information on scoring, and tee times. Please visit IPGA.com

  THE BAER NINE now has eight open holes at the Schaumburg Golf Club, with the18th hole expected to come online soon. Tee times at Schaumburggolf.com (847)-885-9000. IRONS & WOODS coming on line late fall in Long Grove on RT.53/Hicks Road. There will be golf/sports simulators, slots, live entertainment, food & beverage. Stay clicked in. ______________________________________________________________________

Garrett Rank with the George R. Thorne trophy.

Garrett Rank, of Ontario Canada won the 117th Western Amateur, with a 3 & 2 victory over Daniel Wetterich.

Rank 31, a cancer survivor, is more widely known for being a National Hockey League referee. Rank worked several Chicago Blackhawks games last season, including three at the United Center.

At 31, Rank is considered a mid-amateur. And the last mid-am aged player to win the Western Amateur, was Danny Green in 1997. Green won his title at Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club, the site of this years championship.

Rank who shot six under par in the stroke play, entered the 16 player match play portion of the championship as the fifth seed. Wetterich from Cincinnati Ohio, and a recent graduate of Ohio State, was the third seed.

The path to the championship was not so easy for Rank. Because Rank trailed in all four of his match-play matches. And the championship match with Wetterich was no different.

Wetterich was 1 up after five holes. But Rank won holes 6,7 and 9 to take a 2 up lead at the turn. But Wetterich didn’t give up. With a birdie on the tenth hole, Ranks lead was 1 up. Because of birdies on 14 and 15, Rank went 3 up with 3 holes to play. And then Rank recorded a par on the 16th hole, to end the match.

“This was the end of a dream week,” said Rank. “I have had a lot of close calls in big events. To finally break through is huge. I’m a believer when you put yourself under pressure, you learn from it. And I relied on that.”

“The front nine was just a back and forth,” said Wetterich. “But it was fun. He made a lot of putts, and he did not give me nay wiggle room.”

Because of both players reaching the championship match, they both received sponsors exemptions into the 2020 Evans Scholars Invitational (ESI). The ESI will be played at the Glen Club, and is part of the Korn-Ferry Tour.

Rank becomes the second Canadian champion in the history of the Western Amateur. Jim Nelford was the first winner in 1977. Because NHL training camp for referees starts on September 9th, Rank will only play in the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship from August 20-23 before reporting to camp.

Rank defeated David Laskin 2 and 1 in his morning semi-final, while Wetterich won his semi-final match 4 and 2 over Ricky Castillo.

  IRONS AND WOODS coming soon to Long Grove, on Rt.53/Hicks Road behind the Menards Store that’s on Lake-Cook Road. Irons and Woods will have golf and other sports simulators, along with slot machines and more. The semi-finals are underway at the Point O’Woods Golf and Country Club, with the championship match this afternoon. To follow the matches, visit thewesternamateur.com or drive up to Benton Harbor Mich.  ______________________________________________________________________

Golfers on Golf Radio is L-R Ed Stevenson, Bill Berger and Rory Spears. In the studio at WNDZ Am 750 Chicago.

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO Week 19.

Maybe just the 19th hole,is on the air this morning at 10 AM. On the BIG AM 750 WNDZ.

Your hosts today, Bill Berger and Rory Spears, will have a full hour of golf talk.

Our guest this morning is Nick Sherburne, from Club Champion. Plus maybe another suprise guest during the round.

So if you ready to learn more about club fitting, this is the weekend to tune in. And we will have updates on the Western Amateur Championship from Point O’Woods.

A preview of this weeks 70th Illinois Open from the Glen Club and Ridgemoor Country Club in Chicago. We are on the tee at 10 AM, join us we need a third and a fourth.

IRONS & WOODS coming this fall to Long Grove, Located on Rt.53/Hicks Road behind the Menards Store on Lake-Cook Road. POINT O’WOODS Golf & Country Club home of this weeks Western Amateur Championship. For updates on the semi-final, and the championship match tomorrow afternoon, see thewesternamateur.com. #wga #caddies  ______________________________________________________________________

                     The Radix Cup

The 58th annual Radix Cup was finally finished. Because the original date in June, saw the matches halted because of lightning.

Besides the change in date, there was changes to both line-ups. And this year there was a change in the results.

As the Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) amateur team, saw it’s win streak come to a screeching halt.

The final totals were Illinois PGA Professionals 14.5-CDGA Amateurs 3.5. The career totals have the professionals leading the series 36-20-2.

“It feels pretty good to be on the winning side,” said Mark Labiak, head golf professional at Ruth Lake Country Club and team captain for the IPGA professionals. ” I liked my squad the first time on June 12th, and I liked my squad the second time.”

Because the IPGA team jumped out to a 6-0 lead at the turn, they had all the momentum going on the back nine. The margin of victory tied the largest, since the format changed to six matches in 2005. It matched the CDGA victory margin in 2008.

Three IPGA teams won all three points in their match. So the remaining amateur teams had a big deficet to overcome. Besides the team of Eric Ilic and Tim Streng, Dakun Chang and Steve Orrick, and Roy Biancalana and Travis Johns earned sweeps.

And for the amateurs, Drew Shepperd and Trent Wallace earned two points, so that was over half the teams points.

“We made clutch putts to stay within striking distance,” said Wallace.

The Radix Cup was founded by 2019 Illinois Golf Hall of Fame inductee Harry Radix.

THE POINT O’WOODS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB home of this weeks 117th Western Amateur. Free admission and Free Parking, details at thewesternamateur.com. ERIN HILLS opens the new Drumlin Putting Course today. More information at ErinHills.com.   _____________________________________________________________________

GOLFERS ON GOLF presents the THE GOG BLOG-With Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, or on Linkedin and Facebook.

ADARE MANOR in Limerick Ireland, has been selected to host the 2026 Ryder Cup.

The Golf Course at Adare Manor reopened in April of 2018, after a two-year reconstruction was completed. Upon completion, the Tom Fazio designed golf course has received rave reviews.

“I am delighted that the prestigious Ryder Cup will return to Ireland,” said JP McManus, owner of Adare Manor. “My wife Noreen and I are very happy that Adare Manor was chosen as the venue for this world-renowned tournament. And in 2026, and we look forward to welcoming our worldwide visitors.”

The view of Adare Manor

“I am confident that the people of Ireland will get behind The Ryder Cup, and take the opportunity to showcase Ireland on a worldwide stage,” added McManus. “It’s my hope that many tourist, golfing and business organizations, will work together to indentify, all the opportunities for the benefit of the Ryder Cup tournament, and the Irish economy across the southwest community.”

This announcement was made by Ryder Cup Europe, that unveiled it’s partnership with the Irish Government, and outlined the economic impact the Ryder Cup will produce within Ireland’s golf tourism network.

The Ryder Cup comes to Ireland and Adare Manor in 2026.

The nation of Ireland can celebrate another major victory with this announcement, on the heels of Ireland’s Shane Lowery winning The 2019 Open Championship, at Royal Portrush.

“Adare Manor is a world-class venue, both in terms of the golf course and the resort facilities,” added Guy Kinnings, European Ryder Cup Director. “We could not be happier to be able to take golf’s greatest team contest back to Ireland. And we are delighted, that Adare Manor will be the venue to showcase the next chapter in Ireland’s Ryder Cup history, in just seven years time.”

Current 2020 Ryder Cup Captain for Team Europe Padraig Harrington, consulted on the redesign of the golf course. Working with members of Fazio’s team.

For more details on Adare Manor, please visit Adaremanor.com. The resort is one of the five-star rated properties in Ireland. For more information on the Ryder Cup, see Rydercup.com. The next playing of the Ryder Cup, will be in September of 2020 in Haven Wisconsin. Located at the American Club’s Whistling Straits golf links, on the shores of Lake Michigan.